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The mainstay of the strike/attack force is the Tornado GR1. Designed and built as a collaborative project in the UK, Germany and Italy, the Tornado is in service with all three air forces and the German Navy. It is a twin-seat, twin-engined, variable geometry aircraft and is supersonic at all altitudes. The Tornado is capable of carrying a wide range of conventional stores, including the JP233 anti-airfield weapon, the ALARM anti-radar missile, and laser-guided bombs. The reconnaissance version, designated the GR1A, retains the full operational capability of the GR1. The GR1B, equipped with Sea Eagle air-to-surface missiles, undertakes the anti-surface shipping role. For self-defence, the Tornado carries Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and is fitted with twin internal 27mm cannons. A mid-life update programme will be completed by the end of 1998 which, as well as enhancing survivability and operational effectiveness, will give the aircraft the capability to carry advanced weapons such as the anti-armour weapon 'Brimstone' and the stand-off attack missile 'Storm Shadow'. The updated aircraft will be designated Tornado GR4. |
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Powerplant: Two afterburning Turbo Union RB199-103 turbofans of 15,800lb st. Span: 45ft 7.25in (13.90m) - wings fully spread; 28ft 2.5in (8.59m) - 68° sweep Length: 54ft 9.5in (16.70m) Max Speed: 1,452mph (2,336km/h) at 36,000ft (11,000m) Accommodation: Pilot and navigator in tandem seating Armament: Two IWKA-Mauser 27mm cannon and up to 18,000lb of ordnance. Recognition: Short fat fuselage with a very large swept fin and rudder. Shoulder-mounted variable geometry wings of delta shape when fully swept. Bubble two-seat tandem cockpit and a short nose cone. All moving tailplane on the sides of the twin tailpipes. |
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